The novel 'At the End of the Voices', by the Sevillian author Diego Vaya, won the 45th Felipe Trigo Literary Prize in Villanueva de la Serena, after a verdict adopted by the jury unanimously during the gala held at the Congress Palace.
The recognition includes an endowment of 20.000 Euros and the publication of the work; the finalist title It was 'The Stone Hospital', by Gregorio González Olmos, which received 6.500 Euros and editing by the José Manuel Lara Foundation, on a night driven by Ana Pecos and Juan Pedro Sánchez with music Pedro Pastor.
A unanimous verdict and a novel with a bold structure
The president of the jury, Javier SierraHe emphasized that Vaya's work stands out for a risky narrative architectureWith several interwoven storylines and an approach that invites you to read calmly, "to savor it," she noted at the gala.
The story revolves around a 22-year-old journalism student who investigates a disappearance, and plays with the resource of research within research, something that the jury valued as a clear commitment to new ways of telling stories.
Vaya entered the competition under the pseudonym 'Diana Horizont' And, visibly moved, he expressed his gratitude for the recognition, which they had hoped for. 267 manuscriptsA professor of Spanish Language and Literature, he is the author of works such as the poetry collection 'Pulso solar' and the novel 'Medea en los infiernos'.
In terms of plot, the novel operates in registers close to the crime fictionThe young Claudia Nuba vanishes in a crowded space without witnesses, leaving behind a red cardigan, a diary, and papers linked to the death of his uncle Lorenzo, elements that trigger a puzzle of voices and perspectives.
The finalist work and its historical context
The finalist, Gregorio González Olmos (pseudonym 'Alcaravea'), presented 'The Stone Hospital', a story set in Toledo in the 15th century that follows Johan, a convert, at a time when coexistence between cultures is breaking down and where the idea of justice and mercy It gives structure to the story.
González Olmos, a resident of Zamora and winner in 2016 with 'Yucé El SefardÃ', expressed his satisfaction with the distinction and his interest in the Middle Ages, period from which he draws the historical and moral pulse that sustains the novel.
Participation and finalist novels
The event saw high participation: 267 novels, in other words, 63 more than the previous yearconfirming the appeal of the award and the confidence in a competition that the organization claims as rigorous and transparent.
Among the ten finalist works, selected by the reading committeeThe following titles appeared:
- 'Pelman 1,2,3 Madrid'
- 'At the end of the voices'
- 'The Cathedral Traveler'
- 'Margot has a name'
- 'The Stone Hospital'
- 'Burrow'
- '54 Days'
- 'Scales'
- 'The Echo of the Past'
- 'The hidden truth'
These works were passed on to the jury, who completed their reading before the final act, ensuring a process meticulous in the assessment of each manuscript.
A top-level jury and a gala with an Extremaduran accent
The jury was chaired by Javier Sierra, an Aragonese writer with an international career—the first contemporary Spanish author to place several novels among the best sellers in the US—. He was accompanied by two members of the reading committee, the winner and runner-up from the last edition, a representative of the UEx, another of the Association of Writers of Extremadura and one from the José Manuel Lara Foundation.
The ceremony, held at the Palace of Congresses from Villanueva de la Serena, was attended by authorities such as Victoria Bazaga (Culture Advisor), Raquel del Puerto, Blanca MartÃn, Joseph Louis Quintana and Mayor Ana Belén FernándezFollowing the announcement, the evening included a social gathering at the Casablanca restaurant.
The presentation was hosted by Ana Pecos and Juan Pedro Sánchez, with music provided by Pedro Pastor, at a gala that aimed to highlight the talent from ExtremaduraIn the lead-up to the week, there was also a meeting with the journalist and writer Concostrina Snow.
Reading, talent and cultural projection
During her speech, Councilor Victoria Bazaga defended the freedom to "think and live" and stressed that what is essential is read and open opportunities to those who wish to write and have something to say, emphasizing the social value of culture.
Bazaga also recalled the response received from the Board and the Ortega Muñoz Foundation to the congratulations for the Nobel Prize for Literature granted to László Krasznahorkai, author of 'The Last Wolf', as well as the role of Mario Vargas Llosa in the consolidation of the biennial that bears his name, with recent activities in Cáceres, Badajoz and Trujillo.
The Regional Government of Extremadura reiterated its support for both well-known figures and emerging authorsa commitment that —Bazaga pointed out— turns each manuscript into a round trip between creator and readers.
Dates, venue and tickets
The ruling was announced on November 21th at the Villanueva de la Serena Congress Palace, with a literary evening that once again placed the city as cultural reference of the national panorama.
The organization reported that tickets went on sale from Monday October 27 at the Mayor's office, at the price of 22 Euros, and included access to subsequent meeting with the attendees at the Casablanca restaurant, as is customary in the award format.
With participation on the rise, a unanimous decision and two literary proposals with their own distinctive style, Felipe Trigo reaffirms his prestige and Extremadura's ability to attract and recognize new voices in narrative in Spain.